Bjello Russia during the Second World War: Against the protest of his single mother Florya, a 13-year-old peasant boy, joins the partisans. But as they set off to fight the Germans they leave him behind in their camp. Glascha, a young girl, befriends him. Soon the two find themselves in the midst of an air raid which leaves Florya nearly deaf. Completely terrified, Florya and Glascha return to his village to find it in ruins. After a long and exhausting march through a swamp they locate the survivors. Now committed to seek vengeance for the death of his mother and neighbors, Florya returns to the front, but finds himself in a village right in the path of the Nazi firestorm. A band of partisans arrive too late to save the village but in time to capture and mete out justice to several of the Nazi officers.